Strategize Your Order Fulfilment Cycle to Improve Customer Experience

But, things become difficult once you expand your business, find new potential clients and explore new market channels. Managing the order might not be as smooth as it was before. Building an order management strategy to incorporate customer satisfaction is the need of the hour.

Read related content here: Exploring the Possibilities in Supply Chain Transparency: Defining Structure & Steps for Improvement

A well-built order management strategy and updated software are necessary to: 

• Synergize operational efficiency of various units to meet the standards of delivery  
• Reduce overstocking and under-stocking of inventory
• Fill communication gaps and improve data-driven information flow
• Save time, money and reduce fulfilment malfunctions

There are 5 crucial steps in strategizing the order management cycle. They are:

Process Order Confirmation

Confirming all orders and navigating towards payment is the primary step in order management. But, identifying the inventory availability and informing customers about backorder inventories is necessary to help customers speed up purchase. You need an automated multi-channel system or omnichannel strategy to gather essential data for order management. 

Order Picking

The order-picking function typically accounts for about 55% of operating costs. 

Picking the right product by understanding the warehouse plan is imperative to enhance fulfillment service. Businesses must pay increased attention to picking strategies within logistics. The size of the business, availability of resources, and stock quantity are some of the factors that influence picking.  

Here are some of the top picking strategies you can utilize to manage your order:

• Zone Picking
• Discrete Picking
• Batch Picking
• Wave Picking

Material Handling and Packing

Packing is an integral segment of logistics. Choosing the right packing strategy according to the nature of the product and transportation type is crucial. Employees must ensure that the package is economically and environmentally sustainable to reach the customers without any damage. 

Shipping & Delivery

Once your order is picked and packed for shipping, there are 3 important checklists to ensure proper delivery:

• Cross-check on whether the shipping label and invoice are attached to your package
• Update all sales channels with order checkout details
• Provide shipping details and order tracking information to help customers 

Order Return Management

Reverse logistics is mostly an overlooked logistics activity. Yet, it is one of the crucial segments that need to be strategized. Proper optimization of the reverse logistics process helps you make reverse flow beneficial in the long run. It also upgrades your business culture, promotes environmental sustainability, and maximises product utilization. 

Recommended Reading: Go Global: Tips to Streamline Your International Trade

Invest in Order Management Strategy for Flexible Growth

Supply chain and logistics are no more confidential departments. Transparency is streamlining the logistics industry to provide enhanced customer experience and increased sales margins. Framing a business strategy by understanding your business size, requirements and goals are necessary to bring success.   

Customers need ease in purchase and delivery. Merchants should adopt a strategy that resonates with industry standards and sustainability. An organized 3PL service provider will help boost sales prospects through planned strategies and seasoned professional support.